'The internet is the ultimate multinational non-governmental organization. In its brief life it has become an integral part of most of our lives. Yet it is governed by a mixture of different competing organizations all lobbied by groups with very different goals. Privacy; free speech; intellectual property - all of these interests are fighting over how the internet will be governed - and who will be allowed to speak to whom about what. This book lays out the different organizations, issues, and competing interests and is essential reading for anyone who wants to come to grips with what will likely be the key issue in the first half [of] the twenty-first century.' David K. Levine, John H. Biggs Distinguished Professor, Washington University, St Louis